The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-03-09
CLERICAL BlGOTRY.
"AIasi fer the Rarity or Chrtstia
Oharilx.b

.AIast fer the Rarity or Dhrtstian
Charity"
CHICAGO, ILL.,, March S.-Oomment-
on The failure OF the Cons regstio nal
mini ters to adopt unanimously the
resolution TO send telegram of con-
dolence 30 Mrs. Bsecher ut their meet
ing yesterday, the Tina says: "Alss |
for the rarity OF Christian charity"
At the weekly meeting Of the CON.
greRatiopal ministers OF Chicago yes
terday, q resolution OF coincidence
with Mrs. Henry Ward Bsecher was
offered. Strange to say, the resolu-
ton produced heated discussion, and
developed 80 much opposition tina 1t
was fioally withdrawn by the mover.
Ths proposed ter der OF sympathy was
objected to on two grounds-that 1t
might be construed as an Endorsement
OF Mr. Beecher's theological views,
and that the dying divine had never
fully cleared himself OF the cherges Of
immortality b ought by Theodore Til.
ton. The doctrinal obi ections, how
ever, seemed to carry the most weight,
and Ii was evident that while the
brethren were ready 10 forgive Mr..
Beeoher for any lapses from virtue of
which he may have been guilty, they
could not fad IL In their hears to
overlook his lapses from orthodoxy.
The action Of these Congregational
clergymen displays spirit OF narrow
ness and intolerance which il was
hopsd had vanished forever from the
p otestant pulpit oil America. Those
who can conceive OF Henry Ward
Beecher Withholding his sympathy
under like circumstances from the
wife Of dying fellow clergyman, may
be abe to discover some justification
for this pitiiul exhibition OF clerical
bigolry; but none others can. Il bad
been suppos, d that even "Chrlttians"
oessed hating each other at the grave
but 1t would appear from yesterdays
proceedings cf the Congregational
preachers OF Chicago that such ia not
always the ca.e.
ihe Inter OCEAN says: The discus
sion over the resolution Of sympathy
TO Mrs. B2echer at the meeting OF the
Congregational ministers, yesterday
was worse than unfortunate. 1t wai
in many OF its phases simply disgrace
ful, Those who opposed the resolu
ton, which simply rendered the sym
patty OF the Congregational ministers
Of OhicAgo to q woman hanging ovel
the deathbed of her husband, anG
that husband the grestest preacher O
the OoDgr 'gstional Church, based
their opposition on the theory tina
some people might sOonstrue this en-
preston OF sympathy into an indore
ment Of Mr.. Beeeher's theological
views. What O. .eommentary on the
action Of the Corgregationalists wal
the cotton Of the Me.hodipt aminisicll
who, at about'the ssme time, adopted
By q unanimous vote and without
discussion, 1 resolution rendering Their
sympathy to sMEG Beecher.l Thoat
who opposed the resolution took 9
goat risk. Granted that9helr motives
were good, sdll they made . mistake
which, in the light Of the pos
sible ca sots. was almost 9
crime. Tue blood of millions will
boi over this Insult to the memory OF
a man who has been q treniendous
force in our clvilis l,ion, who hNs done
so much, net only for his own church,
bat for Ohristisni,y, and among all
thofe intsretted Ia extending the In
hueDos Of the church there
will be keen regret over the
unfortunate incident at the
meeting Of the Congr ,Vational minis
le's yesterday. As the case etsnds
the man whose sermors and whose
work have done more Tor Couer ga.
tionalem than any other, has receive d
blow that will hurt those who are
near to him for all time,